The 2026 Subaru Forester has zero owner defect complaints and 3 safety recall campaigns on file with NHTSA. EPA testing covers 4 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5L 4-Cyl hybrid and 2.5l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 26 to 35 MPG combined.

Key Data Findings
  • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 0 reports
  • Safety Recall Campaigns: 3 campaigns
  • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
  • EPA Efficiency: 26–35 MPG (4 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
Fuel Economy
26–35MPG
4 EPA certified variants (2.5L 4-Cyl hybrid and 2.5l 4-cyl configurations)
Reported Complaints
0
0 submitted complaints
Safety Recalls
3
3 official NHTSA recalls
NCAP Safety Rating
5 / 5 Stars Overall

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2026 Subaru Forester?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Forester Hybrid AWD Hybrid 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S6) 35 MPG 34 MPG 35 MPG $1,750 / yr
Forester AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 26 MPG 33 MPG 29 MPG $2,100 / yr
Forester Sport/Touring AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 25 MPG 32 MPG 28 MPG $2,200 / yr
Forester Wilderness AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) 24 MPG 28 MPG 26 MPG $2,350 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2026 Subaru Forester?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
HYBRID SUV HEV AWD 17.4%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2026 Subaru Forester models.
View complete 2026 Subaru Forester crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2026 Subaru Forester?

Summary of 0 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
0
Crash Reports
0
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
0
Total Injuries
0

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2026 Subaru Forester problems & component breakdown (0 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2026 Subaru Forester?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #26V436000 Active Recall
Affected Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed August 25, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-26.
NHTSA Campaign #26V346000 Active Recall
Affected Component: VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid vehicles. The sliding glass panel of the power moonroof assembly may have been improperly bonded to the sliding frame, allowing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect the power moonroof glass panel for proper adhesion and, if necessary, replace the glass panel assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRF-26. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign #25V889000 Active Recall
Affected Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

Defect Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear hatch support brackets and, if necessary, replace the stay and support bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-25. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 20, 2025.
View all 2026 Subaru Forester recalls & campaign history (3 campaigns) →
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.